Alternative Spring Break

Envision a city unlike any other in America where the rich origins of jazz meet the desperate need for environmental responsibility in almost every home. That place is New Orleans, Louisiana, the very home of a citizenry that cannot afford to ignore the power of Mother Nature and of a society that will not sacrifice its musical heritage: Climate Change and Jazz in New Orleans 2010.   Our trip will focus on these two issues we feel are inexorably related and vital to New Orleans’ history and future. For the people of New Orleans, climate change is more than a distant threat that may precipitate elevated sea levels and severe weather events, threatening their city’s physical existence and cultural dynamism. Jazz, one the first modern American art forms, traces its twentieth century roots to the neighborhoods and musical establishments of New Orleans and has since become one of the city’s defining characteristics. Today, post-Katrina New Orleans is a nexus of innovative, environmentally focused construction and cultural endurance.   We will live in New Orleans for one week, combining service and education to gain an understanding of the city’s cultural and physical sustainability. We will spend multiple days working with organizations that target land, water, and energy issues in New Orleans. We will also visit relevant sites in the area and meet with both musicians and public servants. Topics covered will include climate change, urban development, sustainable living, and the humanism of jazz.